Discover three Virginia establishments where patrons can enjoy meals and beverages through pay-what-you-can programs.
Throughout Virginia, a small but growing number of establishments are turning the traditional restaurant model on its head by inviting patrons to pay what they can or simply contribute their time instead of money. From community cafés serving beverages and meals in Wytheville and Roanoke to a Richmond-based vegan restaurant offering monthly pay-what-you-can days, these three spots aim to make meals more accessible while fostering connection and dignity. Here’s what you need to know about three commonwealth establishments using flexible pricing to bring people together around the table.
1. Open Door Café
Location: 650 West Main St., Wytheville, VA 24382
Open Doors Café is where Southwest Virginia residents can go five days a week for a chef-prepared lunch regardless of their ability to pay.
The community café is a nonprofit that’s operated by Open Door Community, which has been combating poverty in Southwest Virginia for more than 30 years. The idea behind the café was to end hunger in the region and bring people from all walks of life together through an open door. The café’s operations are underwritten by donations from individuals, churches, and foundations. Notably, every $10 donation helps a future guest volunteer enjoy a wholesome meal.
It operates on a gift-based system, meaning patrons are asked to give something in support of the café’s mission in return for a meal. The café encourages patrons to give their time by offering a token for a classic fare meal for every half-hour of service. Those who give at full menu value can select any meal combo, the everyday item, or add items a la carte, like dessert. Give $3 to receive a wholesome chef-prepared lite fare meal combo.
Jordan Stidham, executive director of Open Door Community, explained that the café’s structure is based on choice because the organization believes there’s dignity in having a choice.
Mike Pugh, food operations lead, added that the goal is to establish a partnership in which the meals are not viewed as handouts.
The menu ranges from lite fare combos, like a chicken salad sandwich with a side and drink, to classic fare combos, like a turkey burger with two sides and a drink. Bowl options include burger bowls, southwest chicken rice bowls, street corn chicken rice bowls, and taco salads. Sides options include garden salad, pasta salad, potato salad, squash casserole, sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, baked beans, green beans, and French fries. Patrons are encouraged to ask about the weekly specials.
Many dishes are made from locally sourced ingredients, like those grown from the café’s community garden.
Patrons should expect a traditional café dining experience, where they’re greeted by a staff member who will direct them on whether they want to make a monetary contribution for their meal or volunteer their time in exchange for it.
Volunteers can contribute to the café by working in the kitchen, serving, greeting, cleaning, or preparing HOPE Packs. The packs, which contain meals for more than 800 students in Wythe and Bland counties, are prepared every Wednesday throughout the school year by 30-50 volunteers. Those with green thumbs might consider helping with the planter beds and garden areas.
The café has gone through a couple of iterations since its opening in 2018, following a $700,000 grant-funded renovation of its location. It later operated as more of a soup kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-2023, it relaunched with an expanded menu and additional ways to support its mission.
2. Ursula’s Café
Location: 511 Jefferson St. SW, Roanoke, VA 24011
Ursula’s Café bills itself as “more than just a café.” Along with access to a warm cup of coffee, a hearty bowl of soup, and lively conversation, it’s a community hub among Roanokers with a donate-what-you-can structure that’s intended to give everyone dignity.
The café prides itself on its mission to provide beverages and meals to those who enter its doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Those who want to pay for their meal can donate the suggested retail price, throw in some extra money to help cover the cost of their meal and someone else’s meal in the future, pay whatever they’re able to, or give an hour of their time before or after their meal. Additional volunteer opportunities can be found here.
The nonprofit also provides programming for the community, like entertainment and activities. The Silent Book Club is one example.
3. Philly Vegan
Location: 1126 Hull St., Richmond, VA 23224
Although it’s not a café, Philly Vegan is another Virginia eatery that offers pay-what-you-can to customers. Uniquely, it serves freshly prepared, 100% vegan options.
The family-owned restaurant is run by three family members who have more than 25 years of experience cooking Philly cheesesteaks. The idea behind the restaurant was to bring an authentic Philly cheesesteak taste with a plant-based twist to Richmond.
The signature Philly vegan supreme cheesesteak comes with fried onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and plant-based meat, placed inside a toasted-on-the-inside, soft-on-the-outside hoagie bun that’s then smothered in cheese sauce.
The pay-what-you-can program started in March 2020 to help community members in need, but has since turned into a monthly occurrence. On one random day each month, customers can contribute any monetary amount without the staff asking questions, whether they don’t pay a penny or donate more than their order price to pay it forward for the next customer.
The restaurant said that as it expands to new locations (including via a new traveling food trailer), it plans to continue its pay-what-you-can program.
